Art show promises original works
Laura Ravenna constantly travels around the suburbs displaying and selling crafts she creates with her parents.
Except during summertime.
In these three warm months, Ravenna takes a break from her company, Mom's Enterprises, and only travels to a few craft shows. Her favorite, she says, is Oakbrook Center's Invitational Fine Craft Exhibition, which is set for this weekend on the mall grounds.
"The crowd is so good and people come not only because they are shopping and the mall is busy, but because they look forward to the show," Ravenna said.
The annual exhibition will feature approximately 100 artists displaying colored fibers and furniture, glass, clay and bronze sculptures, paintings and jewelry. Organizers expect to attract more than 135,000 visitors.
The event also will feature the Elmhurst Art Museum Children's Art Workshop, a free program where children can create 3-D architectural structures from paper. Workshops are from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Originally, the fair was launched in 1963 to highlight Illinois artists and their talents. Today, crafters come from across the country, and their work must pass a strict jury. In order to exhibit in the show, they first must submit slides of their work to a panel of professional art experts from the Chicagoland educational and art industry. The jury then selects the best artists from those that have applied, along with returning artists.
But the artists aren't the only ones who travel. Ravenna says she has return customers who come all the way from south suburbs like Orland Park to check out what's new.
The appeal (aside from free parking and admission), she said, is the guarantee that all the pieces are actually handmade.
"When you go to this one, people know that we make everything by hand," Ravenna said. "People aren't going to the Merchandise Mart and picking up items that are mass produced and sticking them in their booth. I think that's what's important."
Oakbrook Center's 45th annual Invitational Fine Craft Exhibition
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Oakbrook Center, Route 83 and 22nd Street, Oak Brook
Cost: Free admission
Details: (630) 573-0700 or www.oakbrookcenter.com